Mounting assembly for an electrically-powered device

ABSTRACT

A mounting assembly for electro-mechanically connecting an electrically-powered device to a structure includes a housing, a first printed circuit board, an adapter, and a second printed circuit board. The housing has a shape defining a front opening and a first mating structure. The first printed circuit board is located within the housing and has a first plurality of electrical contacts facing the front opening. The adapter is attachable to the device and has a second mating structure that removably engages with the first mating structure of the housing. The second printed circuit board is coupled with the adapter and has a second plurality of electrical contacts exposed on its back surface to electrically connect to the first plurality of electrical contacts when the first mating structure of the housing engages with the second mating structure of the adapter.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Patent Application Ser. No.62/486,846, titled “Mounting Assembly for an Electrically-PoweredDevice,” filed Apr. 18, 2017, and incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present embodiments relate to audio/video recording andcommunication devices, including security camera devices that detercrime and are configured to capture footage of criminal acts whenoccurring. Certain embodiments may also relate to security lightingsystems.

BACKGROUND

Home security is a concern for homeowners and renters. Some exteriorlighting systems include motion sensors that activate lights when motionis detected. Existing exterior lighting systems may startle would-beburglars when the lights turn on unexpectedly.

SUMMARY OF THE EMBODIMENTS

One aspect of the present embodiments includes the realization thatelectrically-powered devices, including audio/video (A/V) recording andcommunication devices (e.g., security cameras, floodlight controllerswith A/V functions, etc.), can sometimes be complicated to install. Suchdevices may require a direct connection to wall power (AC mains), butmany consumers do not have the knowhow to connect anelectrically-powered device to wall power. The present embodiments solvethis problem by providing a mounting assembly for electrically-powereddevices that is easy to use. Embodiments of the present mountingassembly enable electrically-powered devices to be connected to wallpower with no more than a simple twisting motion of theelectrically-powered device. For example, the present embodiments mayinclude a housing having a front opening. By inserting a mating portionof the electrically-powered device into the front opening and thentwisting the electrically-powered device, the device is not onlymechanically secured to the mounting assembly but the connection to wallpower is simultaneously made as the electrically-powered device isscrewed into the housing. The present embodiments thus enable consumersto easily and quickly install electrically-powered devices withoutneeding to directly access, or come in contact with, electrical wiring.

(A1) In a first aspect, a mounting assembly for an electrically-powereddevice is provided, the mounting assembly comprising a mounting plate, ahousing, a first printed circuit board, an adapter, and a second printedcircuit board. The mounting plate includes a back surface configured toabut a mounting surface of a supporting structure to which the device isto be mounted, and a front surface opposite the back surface. Thehousing includes a back cover configured to attach to the front surfaceof the mounting plate, a first interior surface forming a cavity and afirst mating structure, and a front opening. The first printed circuitboard is located within the cavity of the housing and has a firstplurality of electrical contacts facing the front opening of thehousing. The adapter includes an adapter back-end having an exteriorsurface configured to fit within the front opening and defining a secondmating structure configured to engage with the first mating structure,and an adapter front-end defining a front-end interior surface having aforward opening that mechanically couples to the device. The secondprinted circuit board is located at the adapter back-end and has asecond plurality of electrical contacts. The second plurality ofelectrical contacts abut the first plurality of electrical contacts andthe first printed circuit board being electrically coupled to the secondprinted circuit board when the second mating structure engages with thefirst mating structure.

(A2) In the mounting assembly denoted by (A1), the forward opening ofthe adapter may include a ball socket.

(A3) In a mounting assembly denoted by any of (A1) and (A2), the firstmating structure of the housing may be a channel. The second matingstructure of the adapter may have at least one post extending radiallyoutward from the exterior surface of the adapter and configured toengage with the channel.

(A4) In the mounting assembly denoted by (A3), the at least one post maybe a plurality of posts evenly spaced in a circumferential directionabout the adapter.

(A5) In the mounting assembly denoted by any of (A3) and (A4), thechannel and the at least one post may be configured such that theadapter is rotatable from a disengaged position, with respect to thehousing, to a fully engaged position within the front opening of thehousing with at most a half turn of the adapter relative to the housing.

(A6) In the mounting assembly denoted by (A5), the adapter may berotatable from the disengaged position to the fully engaged positionwith at most a quarter turn of the adapter relative to the housing.

(A7) In the mounting assembly denoted by any of (A1) through (A6), eachof the first and second plurality of electrical contacts may include ahot contact, a neutral contact, and a control contact.

(A8) In the mounting assembly denoted by any of (A1) through (A7), atleast one of the second plurality of electrical contacts may be a springcontact.

(A9) The mounting assembly denoted by any of (A1) through (A8) mayfurther include a resilient gasket located between the adapter and thehousing and contacting each of the adapter and the housing when thefirst mating structure is engaged with the second mating structure.

(A10) The mounting assembly denoted by any of (A1) through (A9) mayfurther include a plurality of wires each electrically connected to arespective one of the second plurality of electrical contacts and may beextendable toward the forward opening of the adapter for electricallyconnecting to the device.

(A11) In the mounting assembly denoted by any of (A1) through (A10), themounting plate may form a plurality of keyhole slots, each of theplurality of keyhole slots may be bounded by a third interior surface ofthe mounting plate between the front surface and the back surface.

(A12) The mounting assembly denoted by (A11) may further include aplurality of post members protruding from the back cover of the housing,each of the plurality of post members may be configured to engage arespective one of the plurality of keyhole slots to mechanically couplethe housing to the mounting plate.

(A13) In the mounting assembly denoted by (A12), each of the pluralityof post members may be a screw.

(A14) In the mounting assembly denoted by any of (A1) through (A13), theadapter may further include an annular middle section, between theadapter back-end and the adapter front-end, having an exterior widththat exceeds an exterior width of the adapter back-end adjacent to theannular middle section.

(A15) In the mounting assembly denoted by any of (A1) through (A14), theadapter front-end may include a front-end exterior surface opposite thefront-end interior surface, the front-end exterior surface and thefront-end interior surface forming a slot in the adapter front-endextending from the forward opening toward the adapter back-end.

(A16) The mounting assembly denoted by any of (A1) through (A15), mayfurther include a clamp configured to compress the adapter front-end formechanically coupling the adapter to the electrically-powered device.

(A17) In the mounting assembly denoted by any of (A1) through (A16), thesecond plurality of electrical contacts may face the first plurality ofelectrical contacts when the adapter back-end is at least partiallywithin the front opening of the housing.

(A18) In the mounting assembly denoted by any of (A1) through (A17), theadapter may have a collar with a plurality of grooves in an externalsurface of the collar, the housing may have a hole therethrough with anaxis parallel to an axis of each of the plurality of grooves. Such amounting assembly may further comprise a security screw configured toanchor the housing with respect to the mounting plate, and having a headconfigured to seat partially in one of the plurality of grooves toconstrain rotation of the adapter with in the front opening.

(A19) In the mounting assembly denoted by (A18), the head of thesecurity screw may have a tamper-resistant screw drive selected from thegroup consisting of bristol, clutch, claw, line, pentalobe, protrudingobstacle, spline, TA, TP3, tri-point, tri-grooved, and tri-wing.

(B1) In a second aspect, a mounting assembly for electro-mechanicallyconnecting an electrically-powered device to a structure is provided,the mounting assembly comprising a housing, a first printed circuitboard, an adapter, and a second printed circuit board. The housing has ashape defining a front opening and a first mating structure. The firstprinted circuit board is located within the housing and has a firstplurality of electrical contacts facing the front opening. The adapteris attachable to the device and has a second mating structure thatremovably engages with the first mating structure of the housing. Thesecond printed circuit board is coupled with the adapter and has asecond plurality of electrical contacts exposed on its back surface toelectrically connect to the first plurality of electrical contacts whenthe first mating structure of the housing engages with the second matingstructure of the adapter.

(B2) In the mounting assembly denoted by (B1), the first matingstructure of the housing may be formed on an interior surface of thefront opening.

(B3) In the mounting assembly denoted by any of (B1) and (B2), theadapter may include a ball socket configured to receive a couplingmember of the device.

(B4) In the mounting assembly denoted by any of (B1) through (B3), thefirst mating structure of the housing may be a channel. The secondmating structure of the adapter may have at least one post extendingradially outward from an exterior surface of the adapter, and configuredto engage with the channel.

(B5) In the mounting assembly denoted by (B4), the at least one post maybe a plurality of posts evenly spaced in a circumferential directionabout the adapter.

(B6) In the mounting assembly denoted by any of (B4) and (B5), thechannel and the at least one post may be configured such that theadapter is rotatable from a disengaged position, with respect to thehousing, to a fully engaged position within the front opening of thehousing with at most a half turn of the adapter relative to the housing.

(B7) In the mounting assembly denoted by (B6), the adapter may berotatable from the disengaged position to the fully engaged positionwith at most a quarter turn of the adapter relative to the housing.

(B8) In the mounting assembly denoted by any of (B1) through (B7), eachof the first and second plurality of electrical contacts may include ahot contact, a neutral contact, and a control contact.

(B9) In the mounting assembly denoted by any of (B1) through (B8), atleast one of the second plurality of electrical contacts may be a springcontact.

(B10) A mounting assembly denoted by any of (B1) through (B9) mayfurther include a resilient gasket located between the adapter and thehousing and contacting each of the adapter and the housing when thefirst mating structure is engaged with the second mating structure.

(B11) In the mounting assembly denoted by any of (B1) through (B10), theadapter may further include: (i) an adapter back-end, an exteriorsurface thereof configured to fit within the front opening of thehousing and defining the second mating structure, (ii) an adapterfront-end, a front-end interior surface thereof defining a forwardopening configured to mechanically couple to a coupling member of thedevice, and (iii) an annular middle section, between the adapterback-end and the adapter front-end, having an exterior width thatexceeds an exterior width of the adapter back-end adjacent to theannular middle section.

(B12) The mounting assembly denoted by (B11) may further include aplurality of wires each electrically connected to a respective one ofthe second plurality of electrical contacts and may be extendable towardthe forward opening of the adapter for electrically connecting to thedevice.

(B13) In the mounting assembly denoted by any of (B11) and (B12), theadapter front-end may include a front-end exterior surface opposite thefront-end interior surface, the front-end exterior surface and thefront-end interior surface forming a slot in the adapter front-endextending from the forward opening toward the adapter back-end.

(B14) A mounting assembly denoted by any of (B1) through (B13) mayfurther include a clamp configured to compress the adapter front-end formechanically coupling the adapter to the electrically-powered device.

(B15) A mounting assembly denoted by any of (B1) through (B14) mayfurther include a mounting plate having a mounting-plate back surfaceconfigured to abut a mounting surface of a supporting structure and amounting-plate front surface opposite the mounting-plate back surfaceand configured to attach to the housing.

(B16) In the mounting assembly denoted by (B15), the mounting plate mayform a plurality of keyhole slots, each of the plurality of keyholeslots may be bounded by a third interior surface of the mounting platebetween the mounting-plate front surface and the mounting-plate backsurface.

(B17) In the mounting assembly denoted by (B16), the housing may furtherinclude a back cover configured to attach to the mounting-plate frontsurface. The mounting plate denoted by (B16) may also include aplurality of post members protruding from the back cover. Each of theplurality of post members is configured to engage a respective one ofthe plurality of keyhole slots to mechanically couple the housing to themounting plate.

(B18) In the mounting assembly denoted by (B17), each of the pluralityof post members may be a screw.

(B19) In the mounting assembly denoted by any of (B1) through (B18), thesecond plurality of electrical contacts may face the first plurality ofelectrical contacts when the second mating structure of the adapterengages with the first mating structure of the housing.

(B20) In the mounting assembly denoted by any of (B1) through (B19), theadapter may have a collar with a plurality of grooves in an externalsurface of the collar, the housing may have a hole therethrough with anaxis parallel to an axis of each of the plurality of grooves. Such amounting assembly may further comprise a security screw having a headconfigured to seat partially within one of the plurality of grooves toconstrain rotation of the adapter with in the front opening.

(B21) In the mounting assembly denoted by (B20), the head of thesecurity screw may have a tamper-resistant screw drive selected from thegroup consisting of bristol, clutch, claw, line, pentalobe, protrudingobstacle, spline, TA, TP3, tri-point, tri-grooved, and tri-wing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 illustrates an example use scenario for a mounting assembly foran electrically-powered device according to various aspects of thepresent disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a mounting assemblyaccording to various aspects of the present disclosure, including ahousing, an adapter, and two printed circuit boards (PCBs); the mountingassembly is an embodiment of the mounting assembly of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the mounting assembly of FIG. 2taken through the line 3-3 in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is an isometric view of a mounting assembly according to variousaspects of the present disclosure, which is an example of the mountingassembly of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a side view of the mounting assembly of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the mounting assembly of FIG. 4taken through the line 6-6 in FIG. 4.

FIG. 7 is a parallel projection view of a first PCB according to variousaspects of the present disclosure, which is an example of one of thePCBs of FIG. 2.

FIG. 8 is a parallel projection view of the PCB of FIG. 7 electricallyconnected to a second PCB according to various aspects of the presentdisclosure, which is an example of the PCB of FIG. 2.

FIG. 9 is a parallel projection view of a power cable according tovarious aspects of the present disclosure electrically connected to thePCBs of FIG. 7 and FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a parallel projection view of an adapter with a PCB attachedthereto according to various aspects of the present disclosure, whichare examples of the adapter and the PCB, respectively, of FIG. 2.

FIG. 11 is a parallel projection view of a housing according to variousaspects of the present disclosure, which is an example of the housing ofFIG. 2.

FIG. 12 is a parallel projection view of an adapter with a PCB attachedthereto according to various aspects of the present disclosure, whichare examples of the adapter and the PCB, respectively, of FIG. 2.

FIG. 13 is a parallel projection view of a housing with a PCB attachedthereto according to various aspects of the present disclosure, whichare examples of the housing and the PCB, respectively, of FIG. 2.

FIG. 14 is a parallel projection view of a back cover of the mountingassembly of FIG. 2 according to various aspects of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 15 is a parallel projection view of a mounting plate of themounting assembly of FIG. 2 according to various aspects of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 16 is an isometric view of a ball stud of the electrically-powereddevice of FIG. 1 according to various aspects of the present disclosure,which is electrically and mechanically attached to the mounting assemblyof FIG. 4.

FIG. 17 is an isometric view of the first PCB of FIG. 7 electricallyconnected to wires configured to carry a supply voltage according tovarious aspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 18 is an isometric view of the mounting assembly of FIG. 2 with theaddition of a security screw, according to various aspects of thepresent disclosure.

FIG. 19 is an isometric view of the mounting assembly of FIG. 18 withits housing removed.

FIG. 20 is a parallel projection view of the mounting assembly of FIG.18.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

As discussed above, one aspect of the present embodiments includes therealization that electrically-powered devices, including audio/video(A/V) recording and communication devices (e.g., security cameras,floodlight controllers with A/V functions, etc.), can sometimes becomplicated to install. Such devices may require a direct connection towall power (AC mains), but many consumers do not have the knowhow toconnect an electrically-powered device to wall power. The presentembodiments solve this problem by providing a mounting assembly forelectrically-powered devices that is easy to use. Embodiments of thepresent mounting assembly enable electrically-powered devices to beconnected to wall power with no more than a simple twisting motion ofthe electrically-powered device. For example, the present embodimentsmay include a housing having a front opening. By inserting a matingportion of the electrically-powered device into the front opening andthen twisting the electrically-powered device, the device is not onlymechanically secured to the mounting assembly but the connection to wallpower is simultaneously made as the electrically-powered device isscrewed into the housing. The present embodiments thus enable consumersto easily and quickly install electrically-powered devices withoutneeding to directly access, or come in contact with, electrical wiring.

FIG. 1 illustrates an example use scenario, according to various aspectsof the present disclosure, for a mounting assembly 100 for anelectrically-powered device 170 outside of a building 180. The building180 includes a support structure 182. The mounting assembly 100 isattached to the support structure 182 and holds the electrically-powereddevice 170. The support structure 182 may be part of a wall or a soffit.The electrically-powered device 170 may include, in some embodiments, atleast one of a camera, a microphone, and a motion sensor. While theillustrated example of FIG. 1 shows the mounting assembly 100 affixed tothe exterior of the support structure 182, the present embodimentsinclude use scenarios in which the mounting assembly 100 is affixed toan interior of a support structure.

With continued reference to FIG. 1, the building 180 includes a voltagesource 184, which is electrically connected to the mounting assembly100. The voltage source 184, for example, provides AC mains electricityassociated with a geographic region where the building 180 is located.In some embodiments, the voltage source 184 may be a portable generatoror a standby generator.

FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a mounting assembly 200,which is an example of the mounting assembly 100 of FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is across-sectional view of the mounting assembly 200 taken through the line3-3 in FIG. 2. FIGS. 2 and 3 are best viewed together in conjunctionwith the following description. The mounting assembly 200 includes ahousing 210, a first printed circuit board (PCB) 220, a second PCB 230,and an adapter 240. The housing 210 has a forward portion 217 definingan interior surface 212 and an exterior surface 213. The interiorsurface 212 defines a front opening 215. In the illustrated embodiment,the forward portion 217 is substantially cylindrical, but in alternativeembodiments the forward portion 217 may have any shape.

The housing 210 also includes at least one mating structure 214, whichmay be formed on, or may be part of, the interior surface 212. Theadapter 240 has an interior surface 242, an exterior surface 243, anddefines a front opening 249. The front opening 249 may, in someembodiments, comprise a ball socket, as described in further detailbelow with respect to FIG. 6. The adapter 240 also includes at least onemating structure 244, which may be formed on, or may be part of, theinterior surface 242. The mating structure(s) 244 of the adapter 240 mayremovably engage the mating structure(s) 214 of the housing 210 tomechanically couple the adapter 240 to the housing 210.

In the illustrated embodiment, the mating structure(s) 214 of thehousing 210 comprise a plurality of helical grooves, and the matingstructure(s) 244 of the adapter 240 comprise a plurality of postsconfigured to engage the helical grooves such that as the adapter 240 isrotated in a first direction relative to the housing 210 the adapter 240advances into the housing 210 and as the adapter 240 is rotated in asecond, opposite, direction relative to the housing 210 the adapter 240withdraws from the housing 210. In alternative embodiments, the matingstructure(s) 214, 244 may comprise any other structure configured tomechanically couple the adapter 240 to the housing 210, such ascomplementary mating threads. Further, while the housing 210 has threemating structures 214 and the adapter 240 has three mating structures244, the housing 210 and the adapter 240 may have fewer or more matingstructures without departing from the scope of the present embodiments.Similarly, while the mating structures 214 and 244 are evenly spaced inthe circumferential direction about their respective surfaces 212 and243, the mating structures 214 and 244 may be unevenly spaced withoutdeparting from the scope of the present embodiments. Also, while themating structures 214 and 244 are female and male, respectively, themating structures 214 may be male and the mating structures 244 may befemale without departing from the scope of the present embodiments.

With reference to FIG. 2, the first PCB 220 is located within thehousing 210 and has a first plurality of electrical contacts 222 on afront surface 220F facing the front opening 215. The electrical contacts222 are configured to electrically connect to the voltage source 184 ofthe building 180. For example, the first electrical contacts 222 may beelectrically coupled to wires (not shown) that are secured (e.g., bysoldering) to a back surface 220B of the first PCB 220. The housing 210may include an aperture 216 configured to receive the wires that areelectrically connected to the voltage source 184.

In some embodiments, the wires that extend between the first PCB 220 andthe voltage source 184 may comprise a power cord (not shown) having astandard AC wall plug at its distal end (the end opposite the mountingassembly 200). The power cord may extend through the aperture 216.Electrical power may thus be provided to the mounting assembly 200 bysimply plugging the standard AC wall plug into a standard AC walloutlet. In alternative embodiments, the housing 210 may be mounteddirectly to and/or around a junction box (not shown), and wires mayextend between the first PCB 220 and the junction box to provideelectrical power to the electrically-powered device 170 (FIG. 1). Insuch embodiments, the power cord may be omitted.

The second PCB 230 is attached to the adapter 240, has a front surface230F and a back surface 230B, and has a second plurality of electricalcontacts 232 exposed on the back surface 230B. The electrical contacts232 may also be exposed on the front surface 230F and may extend throughthe second PCB 230 between the surfaces 230B and 230F.

With continued reference to FIG. 2, the second plurality of electricalcontacts 232 may face the first plurality of electrical contacts 222when the mating structure 244 of the adapter 240 engages with the matingstructure 214 of the housing 210. The second electrical contacts 232 maybe electrically connected to the first electrical contacts 222 when thesecond mating structure 244 of the adapter 240 is fully seated withinthe first mating structure 214 of the housing 210. Each set of theelectrical contacts 222, 232 may include a respective hot contact, arespective neutral contact, and a respective control contact, whereinthe hot contact of the first electrical contacts 222 engages the hotcontact of the second electrical contacts 232, the neutral contact ofthe first electrical contacts 222 engages the neutral contact of thesecond electrical contacts 232, and the control contact of the firstelectrical contacts 222 engages the control contact of the secondelectrical contacts 232. One or more of the electrical contacts 222, 232may be a spring contact. The control contacts may be configured toenable control signals to be sent via wires connected to the controlcontacts so that the electrically-powered device 170 (FIG. 1) mayreceive and/or send control signals from/to one or more other devices.

As described above, the first mating structure 214 may comprise at leastone channel, and the second mating structure 244 may comprise at leastone post extending radially outward from the exterior surface 243 of theadapter 240 and configured to engage with the channel(s). The channel(s)and the post(s) may be configured such that the adapter 240 is rotatablefrom a disengaged position, with respect to the housing 210, to a fullyengaged (e.g., fully seated) position within the front opening 215 ofthe housing 210 with at most a half turn of the adapter 240 relative tothe housing 210. For example, the adapter 240 may be rotatable from thedisengaged position to the fully engaged position with at most a quarterturn of the adapter 240 relative to the housing 210.

With continued reference to FIG. 2, the adapter 240 includes a back-end240B, a front-end 240F, and an annular middle section 240M between theback-end 240B and the front-end 240F. The annular middle section 240Mhas an exterior width 247 that may exceed an exterior width 246 of theadapter back-end adjacent to the annular middle section 240M.

The mounting assembly 200 may include a resilient gasket 250 interposedbetween the adapter 240 and the housing 210, and more particularlybetween an annular backside face 241 of the annular middle section 240Mand an annular front surface 245 of the housing 210. The resilientgasket 250 is configured to contact, and to be compressed between, eachof the annular backside face 241 and the annular front surface 245 whenthe first mating structure 214 engages with the second mating structure244 to seal the junction between the adapter 240 and the housing 210 andprevent moisture, e.g., from rain, from reaching the electrical contacts222 and 232. Such moisture may interfere with operation of a deviceelectrically connected to the electrical contacts 222, e.g., byshort-circuiting or by corroding metal components.

The mounting assembly 200 may include a plurality of wires 262, whereineach wire 262 is electrically connected to a respective one of theplurality of electrical contacts 232. Each of the plurality of wires maybe extendable toward, and, in some embodiments, through, the frontopening 249 of the adapter 240 for electrically connecting to theelectrically-powered device 170.

With reference to FIG. 3, the mounting assembly 200 may include a clamp270 configured to extend around the adapter front-end 240F (FIG. 2) andto compress the adapter front-end 240F around a mating structure (notshown) of the electrically-powered device 170 for mechanically couplingthe adapter 240 to the electrically-powered device 170. The clamp 270may be, for example, a split clamp. For clarity of illustration, theclamp 270 is shown in FIG. 3, and not in FIG. 2.

With reference to FIG. 2, the mounting assembly 200 may include amounting plate 280, which has a front surface 280F and a back surface280B. The back surface 280B is configured to abut a mounting surface,such as a wall, of the support structure 182 (FIG. 1). The front surface280F is opposite the back surface 280B and is configured to attach tothe housing 210. The mounting plate 280 may include a plurality of slots282 that extend through the thickness of the plate 280 between thesurfaces 280B, 280F. The slots 282 may be, for example, keyhole slots,though other opening shapes are within the scope of this disclosure.

The mounting assembly 200 may include a back cover 211 configured toattach to the front surface 280F of the mounting plate 280. The backcover 211 may, in some embodiments, be an integral part of the housing210, or may be a separate piece secured to the housing 210. The housing210 may also include a plurality of post members 284 protrudingoutwardly from the back cover 211. Each of the plurality of post members284 is configured to engage a respective one of the plurality of slots282 in the mounting plate 280, to mechanically couple the housing 210 tothe mounting plate 280. Each post member 284 may be, for example, afastener, such as a screw, wherein a head of each screw is sized andconfigured to be releasably received within a respective one of theplurality of slots 282 in the mounting plate 280. The housing 210 mayinclude a plurality of through-holes 285F and 285B that align to theslots 282 such that the post members 284 function to fasten the housing210 to the mounting plate 280. In one example embodiment, thethrough-holes 285 are threaded while the slots 282 are not threaded andthe post members 284 are screws.

With further reference to FIG. 2, the mounting assembly 200 may alsoinclude a seal 286 between back cover 211 and the mounting plate 280.The seal 286 may be annular and may be formed of a resilient material,such as rubber, thermoplastic rubber, silicone, foam, etc.

FIG. 4 is an isometric view of a mounting assembly 400, which is anexample of the mounting assembly 200. FIGS. 5 and 6 are, respectively, aside view and a cross-sectional view of the mounting assembly 400. FIGS.4, 5, and 6 are best viewed together in conjunction with the followingdescription.

The mounting assembly 400 includes a housing 410, a first PCB 420, asecond PCB 430, and an adapter 440, which are example embodiments of thehousing 210, the first PCB 220, the second PCB 230, and the adapter 240of the mounting assembly 200 of FIGS. 2 and 3, respectively. The housing410 may include an aperture 416 configured to receive the wires that areelectrically connected to the voltage source 184. The mounting assembly400 may also include a gasket 450 between the housing 410 and theadapter 440. The gasket 450, which is an example embodiment of thegasket 250, may be formed of a resilient material, such as rubber,thermoplastic rubber, silicone, foam, etc. The adapter 440 includes aball socket 441 that forms a front opening 449, which is an exampleembodiment of the front opening 249. The first PCB 420 may be attachedto the housing 410, while the second PCB 430 may be attached to theadapter 440.

The first PCB 420 includes a first plurality of electrical contacts 422,illustrated in FIG. 6, which are examples of the first plurality ofelectrical contacts 222 of FIG. 2. The first electrical contacts 422 areillustrated with dotted lines because they are not in thecross-sectional plane of FIG. 6. The second PCB 430 includes a secondplurality of electrical contacts 432, which are examples of the secondplurality of electrical contacts 232 of FIG. 2. The electrical contacts432 may be, for example, leaf-spring contacts or spring loaded contactpins.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 4-6, the adapter 440 is shown incombination with the housing 410. In some of the present embodiments,however, the adapter 440 may be provided separately from the housing410. As described above, electrical wires may extend through the adapter440 between the second electrical contacts 432 on the second PCB 430 andthe electrically-powered device that engages the ball socket 441. Thesewires may be permanently secured to the second electrical contacts 432,such as with solder. To preserve the electrical and physical connectionbetween the wires and the second electrical contacts 432, the adapter440 may be provided to the end user together with theelectrically-powered device. That is, the end user may purchase theelectrically-powered device with the adapter 440 pre-secured to theelectrically-powered device. The end user may subsequently join theadapter 440 with the mounting assembly 400 by engaging the matingstructures of the adapter 440 with the mating structures of the housing410 and twisting the electrically-powered device with respect to thehousing 410 to fully seat with the adapter 440 within the housing 410,substantially as described above with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3. Thepresent embodiments thus enable easy installation, mounting, andelectrical connection of any type of electrically powered device (e.g.,a security camera, a floodlight controller, a floodlight device, etc.)simply by engaging the adapter 440 with the housing 410 and twisting. Insome embodiments, the adapter 440 may be fully seated within the housing410 with as little as a half-twist (180°) or a quarter-twist (90°).

FIG. 6 further illustrates a back cover 411, including holes 485B, and amounting plate 480, including a plurality of keyhole slots (not shown)aligned with the holes 485B of the back cover 411.

FIG. 7 shows a first PCB 720, which is an example embodiment of thefirst PCBs 420 (FIG. 6) and 220 (FIG. 2). The first PCB 720 includesthree first electrical contacts 722, which are example embodiments ofthe first electrical contacts 422 and 222.

FIG. 8 shows the first PCB 720 electrically connected to a second PCB830, which is an example embodiment of the second PCBs 430 (FIG. 6) and230 (FIG. 2). The second PCB 830 includes three spring loaded contactpins 832, which are example embodiments of the second electricalcontacts 432 and 222.

FIG. 9 illustrates an example embodiment of a power cable 960electrically connected to the first PCB 720 via the second PCB 830. Thepower cable 960 includes three wires 962, which are example embodimentsof the wires 262 (FIGS. 2 and 3). In this embodiment, a first end 964 ofeach of the wires 962 is electrically connected to a respective one ofthe spring loaded contact pins 832, while a second end 966 of each ofthe wires 962 is mated to a connector 968. The connector 968 mayfacilitate easy mechanical and electrical connection of the wires 962 tothe electrically-powered device.

FIG. 10 shows an adapter 1040 and a second PCB 1030 attached at abackend 1040B of the adapter 1040. The adapter 1040 is an exampleembodiment of the adapters 240 (FIG. 2) and 440 (FIG. 6), and the secondPCB 1030 is an example embodiment of the second PCBs 230 (FIG. 2) and430 (FIG. 6). The adapter 1040 includes a plurality of female matingstructures 1044, which are example embodiments of the mating structures244 (FIGS. 2 and 3). The second PCB 1030 includes a plurality of springloaded contact pins 1032, which are example embodiments of the springloaded contact pins 832 (FIG. 8). The adapter 1040 has a collar 1048having a plurality of grooves 1048G in an external surface 1049. Each ofthe grooves 1048G extends parallel to a longitudinal axis 1040A of theadapter 1040, and may have a cross-sectional shape corresponding to aportion of a circle.

FIG. 11 shows a housing 1110, which is configured to mechanically engagewith the adapter 1040. The housing 1110 is an example embodiment of thehousings 210 (FIG. 2) and 410 (FIG. 6). The housing 1110 includes aplurality of male mating structures 1114, which are example embodimentsof the mating structures 214 (FIG. 2). The housing 1110 includes anaperture 1116, which is an example embodiment of the apertures 216 (FIG.2) and 416 (FIG. 6).

FIG. 12 shows an adapter 1240 and a second PCB 1230 attached at abackend 1240B of the adapter 1240. The adapter 1240 is another exampleembodiment of the adapters 240 (FIG. 2) and 440 (FIGS. 4-6). The secondPCB 1230 is an example embodiment of the second PCBs 230 (FIG. 2) and430 (FIG. 6). The adapter 1240 includes a plurality of male matingstructures 1244, which are example embodiments of the mating structures244.

FIG. 13 shows a housing 1310 and a first PCB 1320 attached thereto. Thehousing 1310 is configured to mechanically engage with the adapter 1240.The housing 1310 is an example embodiment of the housings 210 (FIG. 2)and 410 (FIGS. 4-6). The first PCB 1320 includes a plurality of firstelectrical contacts 1322. The first PCB 1320 and the first electricalcontacts 1322 are example embodiments of the first PCB 220 and the firstelectrical contacts 222, respectively (FIG. 2), and the first PCB 420and the first electrical contacts 422, respectively (FIG. 6). Thehousing 1310 includes a plurality of female mating structures 1314,which are example embodiments of the mating structures 214 (FIG. 2). Thehousing 1310 includes an aperture 1316, which is an example embodimentof the apertures 216 (FIG. 2) and 416 (FIG. 6).

FIG. 14 illustrates a back cover 1411, which is an example embodiment ofthe back covers 211 (FIG. 2) and 411 (FIG. 6) of the mounting assemblies200 (FIG. 2) and 400 (FIGS. 4-6). The back cover 1411 includes holes1485B, which are example embodiments of the through-holes 285B (FIG. 2)and 485B (FIG. 6).

FIG. 15 illustrates a mounting plate 1580, which is an exampleembodiment of the mounting plate 280 of the mounting assembly 200 (FIG.2) and the mounting plate 480 of the mounting assembly 400 (FIGS. 4-6).The mounting plate 1580 includes a plurality of keyhole slots 1582,which are example embodiments of the slots 282 (FIG. 2). The keyholeslots 1582 are aligned with the holes 1485B of the back cover 1411.

FIG. 16 is an isometric view of a mounting assembly 1600 attached to aball stud 1672. The ball stud 1672 may be part of theelectrically-powered device 170 (FIG. 1). The mounting assembly 1600includes the adapter 1040 and the housing 1110 of FIGS. 10 and 11,respectively. When in use, the ball socket 441 of the adapter 1040 holdsthe ball stud 1672. A clamp (not shown, but may be similar to, or thesame as, the clamp of FIG. 3) may extend around the ball socket 441 tocompress the ball socket 441 around the ball stud 1672. The power cable960 extends through the ball stud 1672 and the adapter 1040. When theadapter 1040 is mechanically engaged to the housing 1110, the wires 962of the power cable 960 electrically connect to a PCB within the housing1110, such as the PCB 830.

FIG. 17 is an isometric view of the first PCB 720 (FIG. 7) electricallyconnected to wires 1782 and 1784, which are held by a cable assembly1786. The cable assembly 1786 is configured to fit into the aperture1116 of the housing 1110.

FIG. 18 is an isometric view of a mounting assembly 1800, which includesa housing 1810, the adapter 1040 (FIG. 10), and a security screw 1818.The housing 1810 includes a back cover 1811. FIG. 19 is an isometricview of the adapter 1040, the back cover 1811, and the security screw1818. FIG. 20 is a parallel projection view of the mounting assembly1800. FIGS. 18-20 are best viewed together in conjunction with thefollowing description.

The mounting assembly 1800, the housing 1810, and the back cover 1811are examples of the mounting assembly 200, the housing 210, and the backcover 211, respectively, of FIG. 2. The housing 1810 is similar to thehousing 1110 of FIG. 11 and includes a hole 1885F (FIG. 18) forreceiving the security screw 1818. An axis of the hole 1885F extendsparallel to the longitudinal axis 1040A of the adapter 1040. The backcover 1811 similarly includes a hole 1885B (FIG. 19) for receiving thesecurity screw 1818.

The security screw 1818 has a screw head 1818H. When the security screw1818 is in the hole 1885F such that the screw head 1818H contacts thehousing 1810, the screw head 1818H is also partially within one of thegrooves 1048G of the collar 1048 such that the screw head 1818H preventsthe adapter 1040 from rotating with respect to the housing 1810. Thescrew head 1818H has a screw drive 1818D, which may be atamper-resistant type of screw drive. Non-limiting examples oftamper-resistant screw drives include bristol, clutch, claw, line,pentalobe, protruding obstacle, spline, TA, TP3, tri-point, tri-grooved,and tri-wing. The screw drive 1818D may be a cruciform type, such assquare, double square, and triple square. With reference to FIG. 20, thesecurity screw 1818 has sufficient length to protrude from the backcover 1811 and extend into an opening in the mounting plate 280 (FIG. 2)such that it may prevent the housing 1810 from being removed from to themounting plate 280.

Changes may be made in the above methods and systems without departingfrom the scope hereof. It should thus be noted that the matter containedin the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings should beinterpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. The followingclaims are intended to cover all generic and specific features describedherein, as well as all statements of the scope of the presentembodiments, which, as a matter of language, might be said to falltherebetween.

What is claimed is:
 1. A mounting assembly for an electrically-powereddevice, comprising: a mounting plate having a back surface configured toabut a mounting surface of a supporting structure to which the device isto be mounted, and a front surface opposite the back surface; a housinghaving a back cover configured to attach to the front surface of themounting plate, a first interior surface forming a cavity and a firstmating structure, and a front opening; a first printed circuit boardlocated within the cavity of the housing and having a first plurality ofelectrical contacts facing the front opening of the housing; an adapterincluding an adapter back-end having an exterior surface configured tofit within the front opening and defining a second mating structureconfigured to engage with the first mating structure, and an adapterfront-end defining a front-end interior surface having a forward openingthat mechanically couples to the device; and a second printed circuitboard located at the adapter back-end and having a second plurality ofelectrical contacts abutting the first plurality of electrical contacts,the first printed circuit board being electrically coupled to the secondprinted circuit board when the second mating structure engages with thefirst mating structure.
 2. The mounting assembly of claim 1, the forwardopening of the adapter comprising a ball socket.
 3. The mountingassembly of claim 1, the first mating structure of the housing being achannel, the second mating structure of the adapter having at least onepost extending radially outward from the exterior surface of the adapterand configured to engage with the channel.
 4. The mounting assembly ofclaim 3, the at least one post being a plurality of posts evenly spacedin a circumferential direction about the adapter.
 5. The mountingassembly of claim 3, the channel and the at least one post beingconfigured such that the adapter is rotatable from a disengagedposition, with respect to the housing, to a fully engaged positionwithin the front opening of the housing with at most a half turn of theadapter relative to the housing.
 6. The mounting assembly of claim 5,the adapter being rotatable from the disengaged position to the fullyengaged position with at most a quarter turn of the adapter relative tothe housing.
 7. The mounting assembly of claim 1, each of the first andsecond plurality of electrical contacts comprising a hot contact, aneutral contact, and a control contact.
 8. The mounting assembly ofclaim 1, at least one of the second plurality of electrical contactsbeing a spring contact.
 9. The mounting assembly of claim 1, furthercomprising a resilient gasket located between the adapter and thehousing and contacting each of the adapter and the housing when thefirst mating structure is engaged with the second mating structure. 10.The mounting assembly of claim 1, further comprising a plurality ofwires each electrically connected to a respective one of the secondplurality of electrical contacts and being extendable toward the forwardopening of the adapter for electrically connecting to the device. 11.The mounting assembly of claim 1, the mounting plate forming a pluralityof keyhole slots, each of the plurality of keyhole slots being boundedby a third interior surface of the mounting plate between the frontsurface and the back surface.
 12. The mounting assembly of claim 11,further comprising a plurality of post members protruding from the backcover of the housing, each of the plurality of post members beingconfigured to engage a respective one of the plurality of keyhole slotsto mechanically couple the housing to the mounting plate.
 13. Themounting assembly of claim 12, each of the plurality of post membersbeing a screw.
 14. The mounting assembly of claim 1, the adapter furtherincluding an annular middle section, between the adapter back-end andthe adapter front-end, having an exterior width that exceeds an exteriorwidth of the adapter back-end adjacent to the annular middle section.15. The mounting assembly of claim 1, the adapter front-end including afront-end exterior surface opposite the front-end interior surface, thefront-end exterior surface and the front-end interior surface forming aslot in the adapter front-end extending from the forward opening towardthe adapter back-end.
 16. The mounting assembly of claim 1, furthercomprising a clamp configured to compress the adapter front-end formechanically coupling the adapter to the electrically-powered device.17. The mounting assembly of claim 1, the second plurality of electricalcontacts facing the first plurality of electrical contacts when theadapter back-end is at least partially within the front opening of thehousing.
 18. The mounting assembly of claim 1, the adapter having acollar with a plurality of grooves in an external surface of the collar;the housing having a hole therethrough with an axis parallel to an axisof each of the plurality of grooves, and further comprising: a securityscrew configured to anchor the housing with respect to the mountingplate, and having a head configured to seat partially within one of theplurality of grooves to constrain rotation of the adapter within thefront opening.
 19. The mounting assembly of claim 18, the head of thesecurity screw having a tamper-resistant screw drive selected from thegroup consisting of bristol, clutch, claw, line, pentalobe, protrudingobstacle, spline, TA, TP3, tri-point, tri-grooved, and tri-wing.